t that quid of mud from your mouth, and give your eyes a rub
over, and you will be all to rights," said Dick; "don't say die yet; now
on we go;" and suiting the action to the word, dragging Jerry along with
him, they began moving forward in a "hop-skip-and-a-jump" fashion, which
enabled them to get over the soft ground with tolerable rapidity. They
were scarcely more than a quarter of the way across, when the Cossacks
reached the edge of the marsh, of the existence of which they were
apparently not aware, for, without pulling rein, they plunged in; the
consequence being that, with the impetus they had attained, and the
weight of their horses, they sank deep down in the soft mud.

Jack, with infinite satisfaction, saw that they were floundering about,
but he did not allow his companions to slacken their speed, for the
horses would still, probably, be able to make their way across it. He,
therefore, assisting to support Jerry, moved on as fast as his weight
and the nature of the ground would allow. Jerry's fall, however, had
given an advantage to their pursuers, who were now making their way
across the morass, sometimes stopped by a soft portion, and again moving
faster where the ground was comparatively firmer. Still the Cossacks
had somewhat gained upon them, and were scarcely fifty yards off, when
Tom's welcome shout reached their ears.

"We see you, we see you; and we see your pursuers too!" he cried; "we've
got our muskets ready to cover you."

"Then fire!" cried Jack; "and reload quickly."

A volley from the boat somewhat staggered the Cossacks, for though none
of them were seen to fall, yet the bullets whistled pretty close to
their ears. It might have made them less eager in spurring on their
steeds; still, on they came. The sound seemed to revive Jerry, who,
though nearly done up, again made an effort to push on. A few shots
were fired at them by their disappointed pursuers, who might have
guessed that they would soon be beyond their power.

Tom had kept the boat ready to shove off at a moment's notice; the
latter part of the ground was somewhat higher and harder; across it they
rushed as hard as they could pelt, for the Cossacks had already passed
the softer portions, and, once upon it, they would be up to them. The
points of their long lances were couched not many yards behind, and Jack
again shouted to Tom to fire, while he, with the gunner and Jerry,
almost the next instant sprang into the boat.